THEE OH SEES-“Help”

The Ohsees are another retropunk1950sGarage band, full of dirty guitars, fast drums, and overmodulated vocals. Every song is built around a tight riff, and every song is . . . fun. I can’t believe how many of these bands I’m hearing these days, but few of them are actually good. The Ohsees make the cut.
The band is a power quartet led by John Dwyer (of Coachwhips, Pink and Brown, Landed, Yikes, Burmese, The Hospitals, and a bunch of other bands you’ve probably never heard of), along with Brigid Dawson, Mike Shoun, and some guy named Petey Dammit!. The album was recorded in a plastic trashcan under a bridge in San Francisco. Or, at least it sounds like it was. And with songs named “Meat Step Lively,” “Destroyed Fortress Reappears,” and “Peanut Butter Oven,” many of which clock in at less than two minutes and feature bom-bom-bom harmonies, you know it has to be heard to be believed.Back to the Future on crack. Check it out.